General News
17 April, 2026
Tensions rise over stickers
A RIFT between Mayor Amy Eden, council chief executive officer Ken Gouldthorp, as well as councillors, was on full display during Wednesday’s council meeting which was dominated by hostile discussions and debate, mainly over a promotional sticker.
The tensions soon started after Cr Eden moved a mayoral minute requesting the “I ♥ CAIRNS” stickers be taken out of storage and be redistributed.
Cr Eden said the stickers – which were withdrawn by Mr Gouldthorp about three weeks ago after a complaint they bore similarities to the Mayor’s election collateral – “contains no name, no election reference, no branding and no calls to vote”.
“I love Cairns is a generic, widely-used expression of civic pride,” she said.
“Most importantly, the feedback from the community has been positive. People like them. People want them. These stickers have already been paid for by the ratepayers. Not distributing them does not represent a good outcome.”
Mr Gouldthorp told the meeting that he made the decision to cease distribution of the stickers because concerns were raised of their “potential political influence”.
He said his preliminary review found that the stickers were “not in compliance with our branding guidelines, in compliance with our advertising policy or regulation”.
At one stage as the debate got testy, the Mayor reminded Mr Gouldthorp that she was running the meeting as he tried to explain council policies.
Cr Anna Middleton (Div. 7) showed an alternative C150 sticker which had been designed and approved by the marketing and communications team.
“This is an example of what would be acceptable under this policy … it outlines the event and this would be an appropriate example,” she said.
Cr Eden later said she had not seen the alternative sticker, which was contradicted by Mr Goulthorp who said he showed her the design in January.
Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said the Mayor was involved with the “I ♥ CAIRNS” sticker, had a meeting with former C150 celebrations lead (Jennifer Houston) about the sticker and emails had been exchanged between the pair.
“You refute that you’re involved,” he said. “I do believe you’re electioneering, but there’s a pattern of behaviour that’s been emerging.
“And I just, I can’t believe we’re sitting in here at a meeting. We’re supposed to be serious. This is the most unserious thing I’ve ever had a crack at. Can we just get on the business of running Cairns?”
On her Facebook page Ms Houston said: “The first time she (Mayor Eden) saw one was when I gave them to the C150 advisory committee”. “These stickers have nothing to do with politics,” she said.
After an amendment, the matter of the stickers will be discussed behind closed doors at a workshop.
